"So," Emma said the next morning, stroking a few locks of hair out of her lover's face. "You wanna take a walk?"

"Are you fucking kidding me right now?" Regina groaned, opening her eyes. "It's seven A.M."

"Aww, c'mon, babe. I wanna take you out for breakfast."

Ignoring the offer, the brunette rolled over onto her side, facing the wall, and groaned, "Call back later."

"Baaaby," the blonde cooed, brushing the girl's hair away from her neck and placing a slow, tender kiss there.

"Mmm," the girl moaned softly, shutting her eyes again. "Don't do that."

"How come? Did I wear you out last night?"

"You did, a bit, yeah."

"Aww... Surely, you're not too tired for round two..."

"It's not round two if it's the day after. That'd be round one for that day."

"All the more reason you should be rested and ready to go."

"We were up half the night."

"So?"

"How are you so awake? Jesus Christ, Em. I'm exhausted."

"Maybe I can wake you up a little," the blonde whispered, sucking lightly on the nape of her lover's neck, causing the girl to moan again, a little louder that time.

"Emma, don't," she sighed, but her partner showed no signs of stopping. In fact, Emma's kiss grew more forceful, until Regina was forced to whine, "Don't leave marks."

"Why not? I want everyone to know you're mine."

"Emma," the girl laughed, reaching back and pushing her lover away. "Quit it."

But the blonde was relentless and pressed herself against Regina's back, then began to kiss her neck again, until the girl was moaning even louder.

"Oh, Emma... That's..."

"Does that feel good, baby?"

"Emma, don't tease..."

"Alright. I won't."

As soon as the promise had slipped past her lips, Emma slid her hand over the girl's hip and around Regina's front, then between her legs. Given that they'd fallen asleep completely naked, this was easy access, and Emma was all too eager to feel the slickness of her lover's sex. She stroked her parter's most sensitive bundle of nerves a few times before she slid her fingers between the girl's folds and felt what she'd been aiming for.

"Knew you couldn't resist," Emma whispered. When Regina began to breathe deeply, nearly panting, she added, just to be sure, "Do you want to?"

"Uh-huh," Regina finally agreed, nodding her head weakly.

Emma took the invitation keenly and kissed her lover's shoulder as her fingers entered the girl's hot core. By then, the blonde's touch had Regina aching.

"I love you," the younger girl whispered as her fingers curled into the brunette's center.

"I... I l-" Regina tried, but gasped as Emma increased her force and brushed over her clit with her thumb. "I love you... Emma, I love you."

Once Regina came, she eased back against her lover and sighed heavily as the girl removed her fingers.

"Emma..."

"Yeah, baby?"

"You're so good to me..."

"Why? Because I fuck you like a pro?" the blonde laughed, kissing her lover's cheek.

"No. Because you always take care of me and make sure that I feel good and tell me you love me."

"I do love you."

"I know, Em. I know you do."

"Good. Don't forget it when you leave, okay?"

"I didn't forget it when I left the first time, did I?"

"I think you did for a little bit there."

"Em... I just... You got so angry, and I thought..."

"No. I'll never stop loving you. Not ever."

"How do you know?"

"Because - and I've already told you this - you're perfect for me."

"I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you, Emma Swan."

"And I can't wait to grow old with you."

Regina smiled, and eventually asked, "Alright, so what were you saying about breakfast? I'm kind of hungry now."

Laughing, Emma replied, "Get dressed and we'll go."

Once she'd finished half her meal - some eggs, toast, and a few slices of bacon - Regina felt much better, and her smile finally returned and remained over her lips.

"Bet you can't wait to bring a tiny screaming human to a restaurant, huh?" the blonde chuckled, taking a bite of her own toast.

"I really can't."

"Good. I can't either. We're gonna go crazy and pull our hair out."

"Yeah, probably. I think it'll be worth it, though, to have a little guy or girl running around who's just like you. It's gonna be love at first sight. I know it."

After sharing a smile and finishing their meal, Emma asked, "So, you wanna take a walk now?"

"We walked here, didn't we?"

"I mean, like... down to the pier, maybe?"

"Aww, baby! You wanna be all romantic and take me down by the water?"

"Well, kinda, yeah..." the girl answered, a light blush rising to her cheeks.

As they walked down the dock together, Emma reached out for her lover's hand and took it gently in her own, entwining their fingers as they fell in step with each other.

"You're so cute, Em," Regina told her, looking into her eyes as the two of them sat down on the edge of the dock.

"Nah," the blonde laughed, shaking her head. "You are though."

"Stop it," Regina giggled, kissing the girl's cheek.

"I can't believe you're leaving me again," Emma sighed, her smile fading as she looked out at the water.

"Emma... You know I have to. I wish I didn't."

"I wish you'd gone to school somewhere closer."

"It wasn't an option, Em. It was the closest school that accepted me. At least I didn't go to Cali or anywhere like that."

"Yeah... I guess so..."

"I can't believe you're graduating at the end of this year."

"Ha... Me either."

"I'm proud of you, Emma."

"I know, but I don't get why. The only reason I didn't fail out is you."

"And the only reason I'm happy is you."

"Regina..." Emma said slowly, looking concerned. "Don't say that."

"It's true. I know I haven't told you this before, but I was miserable before I met you. I had shitty friends and was extremely unhappy. You've brightened my life in a way I never thought possible."

"I... I didn't know you were so unhappy. You really didn't seem it..."

"I faked it well. All I really had was school work. And you."

Trying to lighten the mood, the blonde joked, "Well, I guess getting laid makes everyone feel better."

"Emma, stop it. I'm serious. Just being around you makes me feel better. When I'm away, it's so hard to keep my shit together... I just want to throw my books against the wall and walk out."

"Well, you're not going to do that. You're going to keep working hard and finish school, just like I am."

With a sigh, Regina replied, "Yeah, I know. That doesn't make it any easier though. I just want to be here with you."

"I want you here too, but you need to do this."

"I know. Jesus, Em. I know that. I just hate it."

"Hey... Relax, okay? I'll support you, no matter what. I know you can do this."

"Thank you... I just... I feel so lost when I'm not with you."

"I feel the same way, babe."

"Yeah, but you have Maddy. I have no one."

"Honey..."

Before Emma could finish, Regina threw her arms around the girl and held her tightly, saying, "I love you, Emma. Sometimes I wish I'd never enrolled in graduate school."

"It's gonna be fine, baby. We'll get through this."

"I know, but it's killing me."

Nodding, the blonde kissed her lover's cheek and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, saying, "I'm not gonna leave. No matter what. I'd wait forever to have you back in my arms."

"You're too perfect for me, Emma."

"Not at all. You're too perfect for me."

The intimate and relatively sappy moment ended in a long, slow kiss, and the two stayed on the pier for the rest of the morning before they returned to Emma's place for the rest of the day.